If you’ve driven past the New River Valley Center lately looking for a specific bolt of anti-pill fleece or some bias tape, you might have noticed a pretty quiet parking lot. It’s a bummer. For a long time, the Joann Fabric Christiansburg VA location was the go-to spot for Montgomery County crafters, quilters, and basically anyone trying to finish a last-minute Halloween costume.
But as of mid-2025, that big green sign at 145 Shoppers Way has officially gone dark.
The closure wasn’t just a local fluke or a lack of interest from the Blacksburg and Christiansburg hobbyist community. It was actually part of a massive, nationwide wind-down. After filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy for the second time in less than a year in early 2025, JOANN Inc. eventually moved from "restructuring" to a full-scale liquidation of its physical brick-and-mortar footprint.
The Christiansburg store officially locked its doors for the final time on April 24, 2025.
What happened to the Christiansburg Joann Fabric?
Honestly, it feels like the end of an era for local makers. This specific location only opened back in June 2018, moving from its older, smaller spot on Market Street to the much larger space in the New River Valley Center. At the time, it was a huge deal. They had more room for the "Cut Bar," better lighting, and a massive selection of seasonal decor that seemed to take up half the store every October.
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The downfall started becoming obvious to regular shoppers in late 2024 and early 2025. You probably noticed the inventory getting a bit... thin.
Shelves that used to be packed with Lion Brand yarn or Cricut accessories stayed empty for weeks. Employees, who were always helpful even when they were clearly overworked, started mentioning that the "trucks weren't coming in like they used to." According to court filings and news reports from outlets like WSLS 10 and Northern Virginia Magazine, the company was struggling with massive debt and a retail environment that just wasn't kind to big-box specialty stores.
By February 2025, the writing was on the wall. The Christiansburg location was added to a list of 13 Virginia stores slated for immediate closure. Liquidation sales began shortly after, with discounts starting at 20% and eventually hitting that "everything must go" 90% mark by late April.
The loss of the "Cut Bar" community
For people in the New River Valley, Joann wasn't just a store; it was where you went to talk shop. The "Cut Bar" was essentially the water cooler for local quilters. You’d stand there with your bolt of cotton, waiting for your number to be called, and strike up a conversation with someone making a memory quilt or a baby blanket.
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Without this hub, many residents are feeling the "crafting desert" effect. While we still have Michael's over on Conston Avenue, any serious garment sewist knows that Michael's focuses way more on finished crafts, floral, and frames than it does on apparel fabric or high-end quilting supplies.
Where to buy fabric near Christiansburg now?
So, where do you go now? If you're used to the convenience of Shoppers Way, you have to pivot. It's not as easy as it used to be, but there are still some options if you’re willing to drive or change how you shop.
- Michaels (Christiansburg): Located at 140 Conston Ave. It’s great for yarn, jewelry making, and basic craft supplies. However, their fabric selection is incredibly limited compared to what Joann offered. You might find some precuts or basic utility fabrics, but don't expect rows of apparel wool or upholstery velvet.
- Walmart Supercenter: The Christiansburg Walmart still maintains a small fabric section. It’s mostly basic cottons, fleece, and notions. It works in a pinch for repairs, but it won't satisfy a hobbyist looking for specific textures or designer prints.
- Local Quilt Shops: This is the silver lining. For high-quality quilting cottons, you might have to look toward smaller boutiques in the surrounding Blue Ridge area. These shops often have better quality "quilt shop grade" fabric anyway, though the price point is higher than Joann's coupon-heavy model.
- Online Alternatives: With the physical Joann Fabric Christiansburg VA gone, many locals have moved to sites like https://www.google.com/search?q=Fabric.com (now integrated with Amazon), Spoonflower, or Missouri Star Quilt Co.
The reality of the JOANN bankruptcy
It's important to understand that the Christiansburg store didn't fail because people in Virginia stopped sewing. It failed because of corporate "right-sizing" that didn't quite go as planned.
In April 2024, Joann emerged from its first bankruptcy as a private company. They hoped to stay afloat by cutting costs. But by January 2025, they were back in court. By May 2025, the "winning bidder" for the company assets decided that winding down all physical stores was the most "efficient" way to handle the debt.
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Some reports, including those on Reddit's r/joannfabrics, suggested that Michaels actually bought some of Joann’s digital assets and intellectual property. This means the Joann brand might live on as an online-only storefront or a "store-within-a-store" concept eventually, but for the folks in Christiansburg, that doesn't help when you need to feel the drape of a fabric before buying five yards of it.
Actionable steps for NRV crafters
If you still have a Joann gift card tucked in your wallet, check the balance immediately on their website, though most were required to be used by the end of the liquidation period in early 2025.
For those looking to fill the void left by the Christiansburg store:
- Check Local Community Groups: Look for "Stash Exchanges" on Facebook Groups specifically for the Blacksburg/Christiansburg/Radford area. Many local crafters are organizing private swaps now that the big store is gone.
- Support Small: Visit the independent sewing and vacuum shops in the area for machine repairs. Without Joann’s repair drop-off services, these local experts are your best bet for keeping your Singer or Brother machine running.
- Inventory Your Notions: Since we no longer have a "one-stop shop" for zippers, specific thread colors, or heavy-duty needles, it's a good idea to buy your staples in bulk online so you aren't stuck mid-project on a Sunday night.
The loss of Joann Fabric Christiansburg VA is a hit to the local creative economy, but the community of makers in the New River Valley is resilient. Whether we're driving to Roanoke or ordering from indie sellers on Etsy, the sewing machines in Montgomery County aren't stopping anytime soon.